CONSTRUCTIVE STATESMANSHIP WANTED
No failure of the National Government has been moro clearly demonstrated than that disclosed by the admissions of tho Minister ok Finance regarding the taxation of shareholders of companies. No defence lias been attempted of this inequitable form of taxation as set out in tho Finance Bill. The Minister has sought shelter under tho plea that ho requires a. certain amount of revenue and must get it somehow. Thcreforo in spite of the injustice done, in spite of the inequity of taxing individuals with moderate incomes as though they had incomes running into many thousands a year, the tax must stand. The attitude of the Minister of Finance is singularly fceblo and unconvincing. He is quite properly applauded for desiring to maintain a strong finance; tho people of the country generally have responded willingly and liberally to every call made on them; and no one doubts their readiness to continue to do all that lies within their power so long as the burden is fairly distributed. But the maintenance of a strong finance does not necessitate tho imposition of taxation on an unjust and inequitable basis. Sir Joseph Ward is simply begging_ tho question when in answer to criticism regarding the unjust method of taxing company shareholders he talks of_ wartime necessities compelling him to act in this inequitable manner. War time undoubtedly has necessitated a high scale of taxation, and it may compel the enforcement of a still higher scale; but it_ does not compel or justify an inequitable and unjust form of taxation. It is an admission of weakness that the "Finance Minister and tho Government, knowing they are inflicting injustice, should confess themselves impotent to remedy it. It is little to their credit that they have accumulated huge surpluses under a system which fails to distribute the burden of taxation fairly and justly. The huge revenue obtained and the largo surpluses shown are not the outcome of any special financial skill, but are the direct result of the oxtremely high scale of taxation imposed on a wealthy country and the increase in railway and other charges. AVhere constructive statesmanship is really called for is in the adjustment of the different taxes so as to ensure that people will pay in proportion to their individual means and with the smallest possible minimum of hardship. In the matter of taxing those whose incomes are derived in whole or in part from the investment of their savings in limited liability .companies the Government has shown itself .indifferent to tho injustice of its proposals or lacking in the constructive financial ability necessary to devise a system which will apportion the increasing load of taxation fairly and equitably.
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https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/DOM19170907.2.15
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Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3184, 7 September 1917, Page 4
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449CONSTRUCTIVE STATESMANSHIP WANTED Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3184, 7 September 1917, Page 4
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